In January, AFL-CIO leaders approved $15 million for issue advertising,
grassroots organizing and other political activities related to this November's
mid-term congressional elections. But this is deceptive: overall political
spending by the AFL-CIO this year is likely to be closer to $80 million.

This initial $15 million, according to an AFL-CIO official contacted
by Political Money Monitor, is part of the normal union budget to be spent
on get-out-the-vote and other grassroots mobilization activities. On top
of that, AFL-CIO officials are trying to raise $13 million from member unions
to fight "paycheck protection" ballot initiatives and legislation
(running total: $28 million). Another stated goal is a two-year/$20 million
a year "media education" campaign (running total: $48 million).

Next, Roll Call has reported that a "top union official" said
the AFL-CIO plans to spend $28 million on television advertising and 300
"grassroots coordinators" (running total: $76 million). When asked
about this figure, however, the union's press office denied the report,
calling it a "misprint."

So far, this total does not include "soft" and hard money campaign
contributions to candidates, causes and political parties. According to
the Center for Responsive Politics, organized labor collectively spent $49.2
million in hard money contributions, and $9.5 in soft money contributions
during the 1996 campaign cycle. The AFL-CIO itself made $2.2 million in
total contributions in 1996 (if this trend continues, running total: $78.2
million). In addition, AFL-CIO affiliate unions like the American Federation
of Teachers will most likely spend millions in campaign contributions indepenednt
from its parent union.

Organized labor leaders planned to pose a strong challenge to California's
"paycheck protection" ballot initiative, Proposition 226, simply
by getting its membership to the polls this June. Recent survey results,
however, indicate this tactic may actually be the best way to get the measure
enacted.

If passed, Proposition 226 would require labor unions to receive permission
from a member before using his or her mandatory dues for state and local
political activity. A Field Poll reported in the March 24 San Francisco
Chronicle found 61% of union households considered to be likely voters would
vote for Proposition 226. Enthusiasm for the initiative is stronger among
union members than with the general population, which polled at 60% support.

This strong support for Proposition 226 among rank-and-file members has
altered union campaign strategy. The California Teachers Association (CTA)
has reportedly allocated $500,000 for an "internal campaign" to
convince their membership to oppose Proposition 226. A CTA official recently
revealed that 70% of CTA members are thought to support the initiative.

Union leaders are also trying to appeal to the business community by
claiming the costs of implementing paycheck protection would be a costly
regulatory burden on employers. Karen Kerrigan, president of the 40,000-member
Small Business Survival Committee, called these allegations "disingenuous."
She noted that unions are often supportive of increased workplace regulation.
"Now, when regulation of [the unions'] anti-democratic actions is at
issue," said Kerrigan, "they shed crocodile tears for the overburdened
employer."

Campaign Finance Factoids

Wealthiest Americans Miserly on Campaign Contributions

Despite claims that the rich control politics with their money, a new
report by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation finds that the wealthiest
Americans (collectively worth $623.7 billion) only made $21.3 million in
federal campaign contributions between January 1993 and December 1997 -
only 0.0034% of their accumulated wealth. The report found only 38 members
of the 1997 "Forbes 400" list of the wealthiest Americans also
showed up on a Mother Jones magazine list of the 400 biggest campaign contributors.
Forbes 400 members gave only 0.52% of the total contributions during the
1995-6 campaign cycle. The report also found giving trends of the rich
favored incumbents (62.5% of contributions) and consistently backed whichever
party controlled Congress.

Unions Begin Broadcast Campaign Against Paycheck Protection

The Proposition 226 "air war" has begun. Beginning the week
of April 6, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) began running radio
ads in AM news/talk station in Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other
cities nationwide criticizing paycheck protection legislation. In the ad,
AFT President Sandra Feldman says making unions get member permission to
use membership dues for political action would "shut unions out of
the political process."

Political Money Monitor is published by The
National Center for Public Policy Research to provide information on campaign
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Political Money Monitor does not imply endorsement by The National Center
for Public Policy Research. Copyright 1998 The National Center for Public
Policy Research. Reprints of articles in Political Money Monitor are permitted
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